Building Community

I’ve recently found myself searching for strategies to overcome a subtle sadness that I feel for my family and the human race in general. Much has happened in the past months that have left me feeling a bit hopeless and needing an outlet for improving my outlook on life. 

The recent election hasn’t been without clear division between opposing sides. I have no intention of discussing my own political views, because my hope is to help us all move forward rather than adding fuel to the fire. I think it’s fair to say that each and every one of us has experienced disappointment in the outcome for one reason or another. And while some of us have “won” and some of us have “lost,” it’s not like either side is joyously celebrating a victory. We all settled in one way or another. 

As some of you may be aware, the southeastern United States has been in a severe drought and forest fires have consumed tens of thousands of acres. There’s no rain the forecast and evacuations are expected to continue as fires burn mostly out of control. While the drought has provided much fuel for the fire (no pun intended), officials speculate that many of the fires were started by arson. Imagining that an individual is responsible for these acts is beyond comprehension. 

We’re Failing

I can’t help but feel that somewhere along the way, we have miserably failed. All of us. I’m not pointing fingers or saying that it’s anyone’s fault in particular, but we’re not doing something right. How is it that our state of politics became such a disaster over the past eight months and that people are creating such widespread devastation with one stroke of a match? These are just two examples of human err and how we’ve somehow created an environment that breeds injustice and ignorance.

Whites are hating blacks. Blacks are hating whites. Women are being treated with inequality. Children aren’t getting the education they need in schools. People are being killed over material goods. 

We can point the finger in a number of directions, but I’ve recently been pointing it at myself and I suggest you start doing the same. 

Complacency is the Problem

What do I do for my community? The truth is that I do very little. Sure, I’m a good person and I do my part to instill proper values in my children, but that’s not enough. We’re all so complacent in our approach to life that we forget our place in our community. I’m talking about local communities, regional communities, online social communities, and global communities. I’m talking about bringing good to our communities at every level.

We live in a world that’s more connected than ever, yet I’d argue that we’re more disconnected than ever. We’re so caught up in our own little bubbles that we forget our communal role in this world. Like I said, I’m talking about myself just as much as the rest of us. I have a lot on my plate with two young kids (both with medical needs), trying to slowly build a successful career, and living a healthy lifestyle as an example to others. I’m thinking about me, my kids, my husband and the people I reach through my business. Me, my kids, my husband, and the people I reach through my business. Me, my kids, my husband, and the people I reach through my business. Do I not have a single thought for others outside of my own life? 

Sometimes I even excuse myself from participating in more community-building activities because I have a job that is working to improve people’s lives. Isn’t it enough that I spend my life’s work inspiring positive changes in health? No, it’s not enough. We all have to do more. There are thousands of people out there, just like myself, who work every single day to make a difference, but it’s obviously not enough. We have to start taking ownership for the people and places in our environments beyond the requirements of our jobs. We have to stop being so complacent and start taking more action. 

Complacent Community Members

A thriving community needs frequent involvement and positive energy from all members.

How involved are you in your community? What have you done lately to serve others? When was the last time you prioritized someone else’s need? I’m embarassed to admit that I can easily count the number of times I’ve deliberately given back to my community over the past year whether it be through a donation of time or money. On the other hand, can I count how many times I’ve made sacrifices for my own good or the good of my family? No, I’ve lost count; the instances were too numerous. 

If your story is anything like mine, you too should be embarassed. I’m living life as a spectator, assuming that the actions of others will keep us afloat, but the problem is that too many of us have stopped interacting. Too many of us are so involved in our own hardships that we can’t see beyond our own front door. We’re not contributing to our communities in a way that breeds positive thinking, education and enlightenment. We’re being selfish, which only teaches more selfish behavior. 

We also have to stop thinking that we’re just one person and that our small actions won’t have an impact. Imagine the impact if each and every person who reads this decides to do something positive for their community. And maybe your action will inspire someone else to do something good. Creating a thriving community is a ripple effect that starts with each and every one of us.

What Can You Do 

Here’s where it gets hard… what can you do for your community to help initiate local and global change? Individuals who are involved in active churches certainly have the upper hand when trying to learn about needs in the community and how to address these needs. But for individuals like myself who aren’t involved in any church, I feel a bit lost when seeking out opportunities to help others.

I decided to start by having a conversation with my family. We decided that we’re not going to participate in gift giving this holiday season, that we’re instead going to adopt a family through my mother-in-law’s church. Yes, we’ll still buy the kids a few goodies, but what do we really need? Not a damn thing.

I also reached out to the local Facebook community asking about volunteer opportunities. I’ve gotten varying responses, but asking community members is a great way to learn more from the people are actually involved. Our neighbor seems to be a particular wealth of knowledge as well, so I’ll certainly be reaching out to her as well. 

I also stumbled across a couple of organizations that do “voluntourism” – vacationing with a purpose. While my family certainly isn’t ready to make the financial commitment to participate in some of these adventures, you can check out organizations like Earth Watch and Global Aware. Both organizations offer opportunities to travel to some pretty incredible locations while offering a helping hand to those communities in need.

Let’s All Commit

The bottom line is that we’ve all to get our heads out of the sand and start looking beyond our own individual needs. We should all be humbled by the current state of our communities, both local and global, and start reaching out on a more regular basis. 

If you’re with me, comment below telling us all how you plan to start making a difference in your community. Reading about what others are doing will help to inspire us all!